Stick together lads - a quick lesson

**mikeemagnus** · 07-30-2016 06:14

Another first, another Dave (much younger version this time – I have always been somewhat surprised at the number of friends I have that are named Dave – very confusing at times, especially when they phone up and say “Hi buddy, Dave here” - and always when I've had a wine or two or three with supper, the point at which they all seem to speak with identical Devonian accents!). Well not exactly his first game, but the first we have posted on the “Drome”. We decided that he would choose the aircraft to face one another. Two central powers scouts (DVa's as you can see) escorting a two seater on a bombing raid, in an attempt to take out the local entente HQ, a short distance past the entente's front line.

The opposing forces, he decided, would be three SEs, who just happened to be patrolling the area at the right / wrong time (depending upon your personal point of view).

The hun duly lined up to the north, behind their own lines, whilst the Brits approached no-man's-land from the south.

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In pretty short order, the two forces flew to within range of one another, except that one of the two hun scouts decided it would be a jolly cunning plan to outflank the Brits, so went off on its' own to the east, intending to circle round and take the SEs from behind. Now the problem with all games of this nature is that cunning plans go awry, mainly because tabletop air marshals can play God and react to everything they see. So needless to say, the SE pilots were delighted to find the opposition reduced, even if only temporarily, to two aircraft against their own three. They pounced of course!

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Only to find that their marksmanship was well below par (sorry the damage cards are not shown – you'll just have to take my word for it on this occasion – we had very little time as Dave's daughters were downstairs, being entertained by my wife – now she's a star wouldn't you agree! And before you ask – no the girls have not the slightest intention of ever joining in, much the pity : ). The SEs succeeded in isolating the two seater (that, incidentally, never made it to the bombing target area); indeed, all three hun ended up in the same condition; but the flying was superb, with all three like kittens chasing a ball of cotton – round and round in circles with not a shot hitting home to do any serious damage.

Sadly, though, the two seater decided to head for its own lines, where it truly believed it would be safe, only to have a nasty Brit latch onto it's tail and finally bring it down just prior to the safety of its own trench system, where machine gunners were itching to have a go at their enemy, but were left disappointed! Neither the pilot nor the observer, of the two seater, made it either. Both went west – RIP : (

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In the meantime, to add insult to injury, the two DVa scouts were also tumbled from the sky, most ignominiously, by a combination of luck and poorly advised tactics. Guns jamming, boom cards drawn, lone wolf flying against a Brit team that pretty much stayed together as much as possible. All contrived to send the hun to their doom – again no pilots survived : (

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But lessons were learned (stick together boys) and players shook hands and generally speaking a good time was had by all!

And the ladies enjoyed their afternoon too. They had decided to go out, so went up to the allotment, ate loads of rasberries, cultivated blackberries and red currents, straight from the bushes and even managed to bring some home for us too (where they were consumed with copious quantities of ice cream, yum yum) – real stars!!

And you will notice that we have not identified the players of either side. That is unimportant, we think, so you can decide for yourself : )
Cheers, Mike

**Wolfbiter** · 07-30-2016 07:07

A very good example of why you should stick with your wingman! Thanks for a fun AAR.

P.S. Nice terrain!

**flash** · 07-30-2016 08:32

I worked on section with two other Daves and there were several more on the three other sections too. On our section we were defined by our initials DF, DT, DC and are still known as that by our former colleagues thirty odd years later !
Smashing AAR Mike, the RFC owned the skies this time out

**Rebel** · 07-30-2016 10:14

Nice report Mike and I too like the terrain.
When I was a teenager, a long, long time ago, our group was overrun by Dereks, three of them in our group of seven.
They became D1, D2 and D3, or just 1, 2, 3 for short.

**Stumptonian** · 07-30-2016 10:20

Thanks for sharing, Mike.

Had some similar escapades last weekend with a visiting friend.
Boom cards were out in force (for me), along with stacks of zeroes and ones (for him) - especially on a pile of +1s

Loving your scenery, as usual ....

**zenlizard** · 07-30-2016 10:44

Good illustration of the Dicta Boelcke #8: Tip for Squadrons: In principle, it is better to attack in groups of four or six. (or in this case, three, since there were only three per side).

**gully_raker** · 07-30-2016 20:18

Well Done Chaps! See if you listen to Mick Mannock etc & Fly as a group you will succeed!

**milcoll73** · 07-31-2016 02:05

wow 2 alb DVs and an ufag vs 3 se5as. they are braver (if kind of foolhardy) than i.

**mikeemagnus** · 07-31-2016 04:10

Thanks for the feedback guys - appreciated. Yes, the odds were stacked against the hun in this scenario. Put that down to the fact that neither of us is familiar with the aircraft involved. We'll try four to three next time and see what happens

**john snelling** · 07-31-2016 08:00

Originally Posted by Rebel

Nice report Mike and I too like the terrain.
When I was a teenager, a long, long time ago, our group was overrun by Dereks, three of them in our group of seven.
They became D1, D2 and D3, or just 1, 2, 3 for short.

I do that with my daughters D1, D2 and D3. It makes it easier.

When have a surplus of Johns (get ur mind out of the gutter) in my area.